Weekly Report: A plushie data center satirizes AI's environmental toll

Creative studio Basura's satirical "Adopt a Data Center" campaign imagines AI data centers as rescue animals. Plus, Applebee's names BBDO Chicago its new creative agency as CMO Michelle Chin looks to reverse falling same-store sales; Subway casts Will Arnett as America's tempted subconscious in its first campaign from new AOR Martin; OpenAI rolls out chat-based ad formats, tightening advertising's ties to its enterprise business; Parke offers lessons in community-based brand building.

Host Parker Herren breaks down what each story means for marketers navigating skepticism toward AI infrastructure, legacy brand reinvention and community-first retail growth. Subscribe for weekly industry news roundups, plus biweekly deep-dive conversations with Ad Age reporters.

Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode:

~Cuddly toy emits the hum of an AI data center in biting satirical campaign

~Applebee's turns to BBDO Chicago in a bid to regain growth

~Subway casts Will Arnett as your 'SUBconscious'—inside the campaign with CMO Jeff Klein

~How OpenAI is connecting ChatGPT ads to its enterprise business—and what it means for brands

~How DTC brand Parke is turning its social-first community into retail growth